Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore returns with (Sep 10) and (Sep 23)

Brooklyn, NY/June 13, 2013—Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore returns for a second season of unique talks. Building on the success of the first season, this year Unbound presents two highly anticipated book launches by contemporary authors.

Greenlight Bookstore co-owner Jessica Stockton Bagnulo said, “Greenlight is excited about the continuing development of the Unbound series, a great collaborative project with our partners at BAM. With more star-studded book launch events happening this season, the series is becoming part of Brooklyn's— and New York's—literary fabric, and offers a great opportunity to reach Brooklyn's —and BAM's—sophisticated cultural audiences. We can't wait to see what comes next!”

BAM Vice President of Education & Humanities Stephanie Hughley adds, “Unbound has been a remarkable addition to our humanities programs at BAM and we’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with Greenlight Bookstore on the series this year. Unbound reflects BAM’s commitment to creative dialogue and connects audiences to the rich contributions of our literary community.”

Jonathan Lethem (Sep 10), American author of The New York Times bestseller The Fortress of Solitude, returns to his native Brooklyn for the launch of his latest work, . Spanning several decades—from parlor communism of the 1930s up to the current Occupy Movement—Dissident Gardens is both an epic and a family saga tracing the legacy of communism in America through three generations of radicals.

English evolutionary biologist, devout atheist, and author Richard Dawkins (Sep 23) celebrates the launch of An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist. His most recent book takes an intimate look at his childhood, intellectual development—from his birth in colonial Kenya through his education at Oxford— and makings of one of the world’s foremost authorities on evolution. Tickets to Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore are $40 and include a copy of the author’s new book. Tickets to the event only (not including a copy of the book) are $25.

Jonathan Lethem Launch of Dissident Gardens Sept 10 at 7:30pm BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St) Tickets: $40 (includes a copy of the book); $25 (event only)

Richard Dawkins Launch of An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist Mon Sept 23 at 7:30pm BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St) Tickets: $40 (includes a copy of the book); $25 (event only)

Jonathan Lethem is The New York Times best-selling author of nine novels, including , The Fortress of Solitude, , and the nonfiction collection The Ecstasy of Influence, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, Lethem’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times, among other publications.

Richard Dawkins is a fellow of the Royal Society and was the inaugural holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. He is the acclaimed author of many books including , Climbing Mount Improbable, , The Ancestor’s Tale, , and The Greatest Show on Earth. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Royal Society of Literature Award (1987), the Michael Faraday Award of the Royal Society (1990), the Kistler Prize (2001), the Shakespeare Prize (2005), the Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science (2006), the Galaxy British Book Awards Author of the Year Award (2007), and, most valuable of all, the International Cosmos Prize of Japan.

On June 18 Unbound presents the previously announced talk with Neil Gaiman, celebrating his latest release, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM’s) mission is to be a home for adventurous artists, audiences, and ideas. America’s oldest performing arts institution, it is recognized internationally for innovative dance, music, and theater programming—including its renowned Next Wave Festival. BAM also features an acclaimed repertory film program, literary and visual art events, and extensive educational programs. The institution is led by President Karen Brooks Hopkins and Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo. www.BAM.org

Founded in October 2009, Greenlight Bookstore is a general independent bookstore located in Fort Greene / Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, and serving the wider literary community. Through knowledgeable staff, curated book selection, community partnerships, and a robust ecommerce website as well as a beautiful Fulton Street space, Greenlight combines the best traditions of the neighborhood bookstore with a forward-looking sensibility. Greenlight has garnered local, national and international press coverage for its innovative startup model and its continuing success. In addition to partnering with BAM on the Unbound series, Greenlight hosts literary events in the bookstore several nights a week. More information and details can be found at www.greenlightbookstore.com.

For press information on Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore contact Monica Ortiz Rossi, [email protected], 718.636.4129 x8

Credits Leadership support for Unbound provided by Jonathan F.P. & Diana Calthorpe Rose.

Programming in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House is supported and endowed by The Howard Gilman Foundation. Programming in the BAM Harvey Theater is endowed by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

The BAM facilities are owned by the City of New York and benefit from public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with support from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin; the New York City Council including Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Finance Committee Chair Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Jimmy Van Bramer, the Brooklyn Delegation of the Council, and Councilwoman Letitia James; and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

General Information BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas, and BAMcafé are located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (between St Felix Street and Ashland Place) in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. BAM Harvey Theater is located two blocks from the main building at 651 Fulton Street (between Ashland and Rockwell Places). Both locations house Greenlight Bookstore at BAM kiosks. BAM Fisher, located at 321 Ashland Place, is the newest addition to the BAM campus and houses the Judith and Alan Fishman Space and Rita K. Hillman Studio. BAM Rose Cinemas is Brooklyn’s only movie house dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film and repertory programming. BAMcafé, operated by Great Performances, is open for dining prior to BAM Howard Gilman Opera House evening performances. BAMcafé also features an eclectic mix of spoken word and live music for BAMcafé Live on Friday and Saturday nights with a special BAMcafé Live menu available starting at 6pm.

Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, Q, B to Atlantic Avenue (2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins St for Harvey Theater) D, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street; C to Lafayette Avenue Train: Long Island Railroad to Atlantic Terminal Bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67 all stop within three blocks of BAM Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM

For ticket and BAMbus information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit BAM.org.

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